Gaff hook



March 29, 1938. L. H. DARLING GAFF HOOK Filed Aug. 13, 193e PatentedMar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a gaff hook.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a gaiT hook that maybe folded so that the point of the hook may be held in the handle 5where it cannot cause injury.

Another object resides in the ease and safety with which the device maybe transported. In the folded position the hook may be packed in a spaceapproximately one-half the size ordinarily required to carry such hooks.

Other objects and advantages of the device will become apparent from thedescription and drawing of the device.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device in extended position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, with the folded position ofthe hook shown in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the bill of the hookengaged in the handle;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale on theline 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional inew 0n the line 5-6 of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a detail View on the line of Figure 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, wherein like referencecharacters designate like or similar parts, the hook Ill has its shaftIlla secured to a section of the stem, by rivets I2. The section ispivoted to the section I 3 by a pin ll-l. The pin I4 being enclosed by acoil spring I5 having its opposite ends bearing against the section andthe section I3 tonormally hold the device in an extended position.

The section I3 of the stem extends up into a longitudinal recess Il inthe handle I6, and is' secured to the handle by a rivet I8.

The sections and I3 of the stern are channel shaped, the section I Ibeing smaller than the section I3 so that it ts in the section I3.

A sliding catch having a housing I9 is secured by rivets 2li in thechannel section II. The sliding catch having a laterally extending pin 2sliding longitudinally in a slot 22 in the sides of the section II,engages in the notches 23 in the opposite sides of the channel sectionI3. The

pin 2| extends through the opposite sides of a U- shaped plate 24` Theplate 24 has a button 25 secured to it by a stem 26. The plate I9 has alongitudinal slot 2l for the stem 26 to slide in.

A coil spring 23 is attached to the pin 2| and one of the rivets 20.'I'he button 25, secured to the U-shaped plate 24, being movedlongitudinally in the slot 2l moves the pin 2| which passes throughopenings in the opposite sides of the U- shaped plate 24, against theaction of the spring 5 28, to release the pin 2| from engagement withthe notches 23. The notches 23 have inclined lip-s 23a to permit the pin2| to automatically engage the notches 23 against the resistance of thespring 28. 10

A sliding catch is carried in the recess I1 of the handle I6 andcomprises a plate 29 with a V-shaped notch 30 in one end thereof, theopposite end being bent to form a flange 29a.

The handle I6 has a slot 35 registering with the 15 notch 3l) in plate29 to receive the bill of the hook I0. A button 3| is secured to theplate 29 by a stem 32, and is movable in a slot 33 against the action ofa coil spring 34 secured to the section I3 and the flange 29a, torelease the bill of 20 the hook I0 from engagement with the notch 30 ofthe plate 29.

In operation assuming the device to be in extended position, by pressingthe butto-n 25, the U-shaped plate 24 Will move the pin 2| in the 25slot 22 against the action of the spring 28 to release the' pin 2| fromengagement in the notches 23. The hook can then be moved against theaction of the spring l5 to the closed position as shown in Figure 3. Toopen the device the 30 button 3| is moved longitudinally in the slot 33,against the action of the spring 34, to release the bill of the hook I0from engagement with the notch 39 of plate 29. The spring I5 will causethe hook to swing to the open position. The pin 35 2| will slide overthe bevelled lips 23a and engage the notches 23 to hold the device inopen position.

I claim as my invention:

l. A folding gan hook, comprising a handle, a hook, and a stem havingtwo sections pivotally 40 connected together, a sliding catch carried byone of said sections, and cut-away portions in the other section tocooperate with the catch to hold the device rigid when in open position.

2. A folding gai hook, comprising a hook, a 45 handle, and a stem havingtwo sections pivotally connected together, said handle being hollow toreceive a sliding catch, the handle also being provided with an openingto register with the catch, said opening being adapted to receive thepoint 50 of the hook, said hook being held in folded position by saidsliding catch.

3. A folding gaff hook, comprising a handle,

a hook, a stem having two sections pivotally connected by a pintle, acoil spring carried by said 55 tions pivotally connected by a pintle,said pintle carrying a coiled spring, the opposite ends of said springbearing against the sections to normally urge them to an open position,one of said sections being provided with a sliding catch, and the othersection having cut-away portions to cooperate with said catch to holdthe sections rigid When in open position.

LOUIS H. DARLING.

